There's no sympathy here, of course, with Dani's reaction to Christian's death being a big grin. She has reached catharsis by confronting her fear of loss, finding a new family to help her through the aftermath.

Why was she smiling at the end of midsummer?

A smile breaks across her face as Aster describes in the screenplay, "She... surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful."

Why was Dani happy at the end of Midsommar?

Dani was alone, isolated, and lacking any considerable empathy or compassion from those around her. By the film's end, she has embraced the values of this commune — values of community and found family — and finally feels seen, heard, and felt.

Why was everyone screaming at the end of Midsommar?

Maja's love spell and Christian's ultimate betrayal finally let Dani break away from him. Instead of going off alone and swallowing her tears, as she had been doing the entire trip, she let the sadness consume her. The women of the cult replicated her cries to show that it was okay to fall apart.

What mental illness does Dani have in Midsommar?

A potentially traumatic event death of Dani's parents and sister drastically transforms Dani, leaving her psychologically traumatized. Later on, Dani develops posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder caused by this distressing event.

Midsommar's "Happy" Ending, Explained

Why did Dani smile at the end?

There's no sympathy here, of course, with Dani's reaction to Christian's death being a big grin. She has reached catharsis by confronting her fear of loss, finding a new family to help her through the aftermath.

What was so traumatizing about Midsommar?

The depiction of the cult's rituals, such as the Maypole Dance and the Copulation Ritual, are disturbing and filled with sinister undertones, highlighting the unsettling nature of the story.

What does the bear symbolize in Midsommar?

Bears in Swedish culture represent evil and dishonesty. Christian's evil and dishonesty throughout the film is punished by him literally taking on the skin of a bear, and being sent to Hell. This is a horror movie, but the way it looks is very non-traditional to the genre.

Did Pelle set them up in Midsommar?

Despite seeming like he respects Christian and sees him as a friend, he is actually apathetic to his existence and it is later revealed that he was planning ways to separate Dani and Christian, given that he showed fellow Harga member Maja a picture of Christian to set them up.

Why does Pelle like Dani?

It is alluded that Pelle and Dani are destined to be together based on the fact that they are an astrological match. Not only is she the ideal person to become the Harga's queen, she is also the ideal mate for Pelle.

What is the moral of Midsommar?

She throws away her old life for the life of a May Queen. Ari Aster's Midsommar is nothing short of an exceptional horror fairytale that shows us the dangers of isolation and the importance of finding your place in the world, finding those that will accept you and make you feel seen.

Did Pelle manipulate Dani?

Pelle's manipulation led to Dani becoming the May Queen, which in turn led to Pelle being spared from being sacrificed, which could have also been a strong reason for him to do all this.

Was Simon still alive in Midsommar?

Adding to the list of Midsommar hidden details is that Simon's method of death was based on a real Norse execution ritual known as the Blood Eagle. It's made even more terrifying because Simon was alive while it happened and was still alive when Christian found him.

Was Dani always meant to be May Queen?

Ultimately, Dani becomes the May Queen she was always destined to become and sacrifices Christian to complete the mid-summer ritual. The most unexpected element in the film is not his death nor is it her being crowned the May Queen, it is actually how many times Aster overtly foreshadowed these events.

Is Midsommar based on a true story?

Midsommar, the movie, is partially based on the real midsummer festival celebrated in Sweden, but includes violent and pagan cult activities not found in the actual tradition.

What did Dani see in the keyhole?

She catches sight of the ritual through the temple's keyhole: Middle-aged naked women are writhing and singing around her boyfriend mid-coitus. One old woman goes as far as to push on his ass cheeks to intensify the thrusting. Dani, like any reasonable person, throws up immediately and flees to the sleeping quarters.

What happens to Connie in Midsommar?

Connie Was Drowned As A Tribute To The Element Of Water

As she's wheeled into the building, her body is blue, wet, and covered in seaweed. It is obvious that Connie was drowned by the Hårga members and left in the water until they needed to use her for the appropriate ritual.

Who is the deformed kid in Midsommar?

Josh later learns that the village's ritualistic practices are based on paintings made by a member named Ruben (Levente Puczko-Smith), a deformed boy who was the product of incest but is viewed as some kind of seer. Josh asks to take pictures of Ruben's drawings, but he is forbidden.

Why does Pelle kiss Dani?

In the script, the kiss is actually described as a “blunt, passionate kiss.” While so much of the Pelle/Dani ship is not scripted, here it is plain: Pelle, now wearing the Wunjo rune, is Dani's wish for an understanding, loving partner come true, and for the minute she can be spared from the procession, he is kissing ...

Who was hanging in the chicken coop in Midsommar?

Simon and Connie decide to leave, however several cultists find Simon and torture him. They then take out his lungs and use them to turn Simon into a blood eagle. They stuff flowers into Simon's eyes as well and leave him in the chicken shack.

What are they eating and drinking in Midsommar?

In Midsommar, Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) ingests hallucinogenic teas and is offered a full fish to swallow, while her boyfriend Christian (Josh Radnor) eats a pie with a pubic hair in it and drinks juice spiked with menstrual blood.

Why do they breathe weird in Midsommar?

The Hårga use breath to reinforce their insular group, to synchronize individuals, and to connect to outsiders like Dani. (Kenney also developed the sound of the "punctuation" breaths, Aster says.)

What is the scariest scene in Midsommar?

Midsommar's most terrifying scene doesn't involve gore — it's the haunting murder-suicide scene at the beginning of the movie. Ari Aster skillfully exposes the horrors of depression in Midsommar, leaving audiences disturbed. Terri's suicide in Midsommar sets the stage for a dark journey of mental health struggles.

What are the hidden parts of Midsommar?

The Flower Crown In Dani's Parents' Death Scene

That is until eagle-eyed viewers spotted a flower crown next to Dani's dead parents. It's shown early enough in the movie that the audience doesn't get the context, and placed subtly enough that they may forget about it by the time Dani gets to Sweden.

Is Hereditary or Midsommar scarier?

Both films are respected in the horror genre, but Hereditary was arguably the scarier and more entertaining movie. While Midsommar was somewhat repetitive, Hereditary had many unexpected twists and turns.